10 July 2011

The Night Train, Book Review

Publisher's review:

In 1963, at the age of 17, Dwayne Hallston discovers James Brown and wants to perform just like him. His band, the Amazing Rumblers, studies and rehearses Brown's Live at the Apollo album in the storage room of his father's shop in their small North Carolina town. Meanwhile, Dwayne's forbidden black friend Larry--aspiring to play piano like Thelonius Monk--apprentices to a jazz musician called the Bleeder. His mother hopes music will allow him to escape the South.

A dancing chicken and a mutual passion for music help Dwayne and Larry as they try to achieve their dreams and maintain their friendship, even while their world says both are impossible. In THE NIGHT TRAIN, Edgerton's trademark humor reminds us of our divided national history and the way music has helped bring us together.

Now for my review:

Music and the folks who play it, write lyrics, generally enjoy a good time following their dreams, is the central theme of this book and was a deciding factor when I agreed to review The Night Train.

Let me first say this is not what I would consider truly Christian material.

There is no doubt Clyde Edgerton has a certain humour and is even funny at times. I also found him somewhat boring and at times even distasteful.

Perhaps I should explain Edgerton pokes fun at the entire human race but he writes about something close to my heart and there is where I draw the line.

In all fairness, I should tell you the author's writing is interesting and informative and the same can be said about some of his characters.

Some people might enjoy this kind of book but I cannot count myself amongst them. Based on this, I doubt I would review anything else of Clyde Edgerton's work.